Jeff White Aloha Award
Lifetime ACHEIVMENT award
Jeff White was a beloved community leader who dedicated his life to bringing the surfing tribe together through events, his surf shop, and his pioneering contributions to the sport. He was the founder of Surf N Wear and the Rincon Classic, along with several other events that helped unite the surfing community from 1969 to 1996. Jeff’s passion for the ocean and his commitment to community left a lasting impact that continues to be felt today.
After Jeff’s passing in 2013, legendary woodworker Skip Saenger sought to honor his legacy by creating a perpetual trophy that would become part of the Rincon Classic tradition. From this vision, the Jeff White Aloha Award (JWAA) was born.
The JWAA is presented annually to a community-minded leader in recognition of lifetime achievement. It honors individuals who embody Jeff White’s values and have dedicated their lives to giving back to the surfing community through the sport and industry.
2026 Recipient: kIM meARIG
Q & A
Tell us about your first session surfing at Rincon?
The first time I surfed Rincon my parents took me, and I remember being blown away on how big the point was, lots of places to take off! I was probably 13 or 14. 1975, or 1976, and after checking it all out I decided to surf in between Indicators, and the cove, just below the river mouth which we now call “no man’s land” I chose that area, because there was NO ONE OUT!!! Haha I instantly fell in love with.
What was it like being a female surfer in the 70's and 80's?
Growing up as a woman surfer in the 70s, 80s was great! Because I kinda slipped through a lot of the localism that was going on at the time, because I was a girl. There were very few of us in SB, and we either knew each other or heard of each other.
You’ve inspired generations of surfers with your style and achievements. What advice would you give young female surfers who dream of turning pro or becoming a world champion?
My advice to an aspiring pro is: Focus on your strengths, maybe something that sets you apart from the others, like Caity’s cool lines or Carissa’s power. Two great surfers, but very different approaches. Compete, compete, compete!! Make sure you’re surfing against all the top young aspiring pro’s, and know your competition. If you look at all the World Champions in their prime they all have something unique that sets them apart at the time.
What is style to you?
Style: I think everyone has an in born rhythm, and it comes out when you’re expressing yourself physically. For me it’s a feeling, and in competitive surfing I had to take my creativity, and freedom while free surfing, and adjust it a little for the contest format. Which I had to work on.
Santa Barbara has always had it's own kind of surfing culture. How would you describe the local surfing culture and community?
Growing up surfing, and living in Santa Barbara has been amazing! I have always referred to it as the “Golden Triangle” for its richness of great surf!! From Rincon to our Channel Islands to Jalama, and everything in between. And all these places have their own little communities which I was very lucky to feel welcomed, and comfortable where ever the swells lead me.
Were you working directly with Al Merrick on your boards before and during your world title run and tell us about that relationship as surfboards evolved quickly from sinlge fin, to twin fin, to thruster in the early 80's?
Yes! Working with Al Merrick was really fun! We were both young, and had a lot to learn. There was a lot of innovation/progression going on in my early years working with him. I went through the whole gamut with Al. Single fins to the Twins, and ultimately the Thruster. Really fun to be part of! Short boarding, and competitive surfing I have always rode Al’s boards. but I have always had a Yater on hand for long boarding, which I ride mostly today. Both great guys, and excellent in their craft.
Was Tom Curren one of your original sparring partners and did you train together for the tour in those years?
8Tom, and I didn’t really train together, but both were definitely bred on the same type of surf coming from Santa Barbara. Both rode Al’s boards, and had the Big sponsorship with Op, which brought us together for promotional work, and surf trips. We definitely had a lot of parallels.
Being fortunate to be payed to surf I surfed, and trained mostly by myself, because all my friends had “real jobs,” but when the surf got good my self employed husband (Brian), and I would surf our brains out at some of our favorite remote areas on one of our boats. He also traveled with me as much as possible, and always went to Hawaii every year which was always a month or longer. We would also use my travels for extended adventures in different parts of the world. Fun times!!
Who were the biggest influences on your surfing?
My influences: I started surfing in the summer between 6th, and 7th grade in 1974 I was 11. And I instantly fell in love with surfing. I had always been athletic, adventurous , and doing something in nature, so surfing was absolutely the perfect combination of everything I loved! So I instantly started getting Surfer, and Surfing magazines, and was obsessed with the travel pictures of all the amazing waves, and everyone that were riding them. So my influences were basically the whole 70’s generation, men, and women.
Before CAD and pop-outs, board design relied on the surfer–shaper relationship. Did Al Taylor shape boards specifically based on your feedback as a woman, or were they mainly designed around the surfing style of that era?
The shaper/ athlete relationship is very important. Al spent a lot of time in the water, and on the beach observing all of us, and would know our needs, and he would then incorporate his knowledge on design, and shaping into what he thought would work.
All photos of Kim Mearig on this page were taken by Jimmy Metyko
